Album Review

With an intriguing brand of folk-rock that managed to somehow sound both bright and mournful at the same time, the Beau Brummels had a delightful run of singles in 1964 and 1965, including "Cry Just a Little," "Laugh, Laugh," and the Byrdsian (and quite ominous) "Don't Talk to Strangers." Personnel changes and label snafus (they were signed at the time to Autumn Records) kept the group from building forward on this promising start, and these early tracks remain the Beau Brummels' main legacy. This collection has all the high points from this time period, including the above singles and a handful of songs ("You Tell Me Why," "Still in Love with You Baby," "Gentle Wandering Ways") that are every bit as strong.

Biography

Formed: 1964 in San Francisco, CA

Genre: Rock

Years Active: '60s, '70s

While they only had two big hits, the Beau Brummels were one of the most important and underrated American groups of the 1960s. They were the first U.S. unit of any sort to successfully respond to the British Invasion. They were arguably the first folk-rock group, even predating the Byrds, and also anticipated some key elements of the San Francisco psychedelic sound with their soaring harmonies and exuberant melodies....